Chargers safety Eric Weddle was fined by the team in Week 15 for failing to return to the locker room during halftime so that he could watch his daughter perform in the halftime show during the team’s game against the Dolphins.
Coach Mike McCoy confirmed that Weddle received a fine, reportedly $10,000, for remaining on the field without getting permission from the team.
“Yes we did,” McCoy said. “We have a policy here, and a situation took place two weeks ago at our stadium. So yes, we did fine him. It’s an organizational call. We have a club policy here, and there are certain things we have to do as a football team at halftime to make adjustments, and things like that. That’s why we did that.”
That fine came to light on Monday after Weddle was placed on injured reserve and told that there wasn’t enough room on the team plane for him to travel with the club to Denver for the season finale. Chargers spokesman Bill Johnston said, via ESPN.com, that players on injured reserve have not been barred in the past, but they don’t have the space with 17 players on injured reserve right now.
Weddle’s agent David Canter said that they plan to file a grievance through the NFLPA regarding the fine. Weddle is set to be a free agent and the already dim chance he’d return in 2016 has probably gone away entirely.